The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 100

After school, Percival wanted to walk home together, but Vivienne shut him down hard.

She always had a lot of stuff on her mind about her mom that she wanted to talk about with Iris, and having Percival there would make it awkward.

Vivienne and Iris had already informed Dorian and Cordelia, so they picked up Thaddeus, grabbed a bite, and headed to the amusement park.

It’d been a long time, and Iris’s face seemed a lot older than Vivienne remembered, but she was still as gentle as ever.

Iris held Thaddeus and smiled at Vivienne. It reminded her of an old photo where Iris was holding her with the same gentleness.

That was her only time at an amusement park.

Vivienne was prepared for Iris to plead for the Hawthorn family.

But Iris dragged Thaddeus straight to the merry-go-round as soon as they got there and waved at Vivienne. “Come on, Vivienne, join us.”

Vivienne cracked a smile. Her beauty was like a breath of springtime sunshine.

Aside from a few rides with height restrictions, the three of them did the whole park.

In the end, Iris and Thaddeus came out of the haunted house and got all excited after seeing the Ferris wheel.

While queuing, Thaddeus wanted some ice cream. Iris turned to Vivienne. “Hold the line, Vivienne. I’ll take him to get some. We’ll be right back.”

“Sure,” Vivienne nodded.

However, they were taking forever. It was almost their turn, and there was still no sign of them.

Just as Vivienne was hesitating at the ticket gate, someone grabbed her hand from the side and dragged her onto the Ferris wheel.

She whipped around to see who it was and frowned. “Mr. Ellington, don’t you have anything better to do?”

The Ferris wheel started its slow ascent as the door closed.

Percival was a big guy. The cabin was not small, but it still felt a bit cramped to him.

“Isolde wanted to come to the park. What are the odds that you guys are here

he pointed out

Thomas with Isolde in

12.15

spotted Vivienne and began waving

engagement party, Percival’s parents took Isolde back. Percival’s mom, Cecilia, didn’t like Vivienne, so she kept Isolde away from the Hawthorn family,

hands at Vivienne, indicating that

sat across from Percival with a smirk on her face. As if to say, “Yeah, like I’m gonna

because she had

Percival still followed,

did a lot for her. Most girls would have fallen madly in love with him by now. They

But she was Vivienne.

walking on eggshells for

which

that

scrutinize his every move to

tolerated him always being around her, not because she was moved by him, but

hiding herself. She had

the Ferris wheel slowly turned as their cabin stopped at

window. The night sky seemed close but far

amusement park lights and

with ice cream. They were in line with Thomas and Isolde,

the entire sky.

the fireworks, and Percival was watching

the changing light

this, Percival found that his throat was now a bit dry. He had

his head, the cabin’s glass reflected the amazement in

Chapter 100

was so intense that

oblivious, and she gave him a slight smile. “You want to buy this

like

about we make a bet?” Vivienne’s smile

“Bet on what?”

do something for you.” Vivienne leaned in slightly, with a hint of mischief in her smile. “If

“Anything?”

“Yep.”

looked up to see Vivienne

sky danced